Posted on October 22, 2021

How to Organize an Office Like a Pro

Find out how to organize your office like a pro with this comprehensive guide from Juniper! Read on to get started.

If you’re someone who struggles to stay organized, don’t worry, we’ve got you! There are a few things to think about when organizing your office, but keep them in mind, and you’ll have everything neatly arranged in no time. From desk storage bins and boxes to filing cabinets and desk organizers, there’s always something to help declutter your work space. Keep reading for some of our favorite organizational tips.

How to Organize Your Office

Sort and Discard

The first thing you need to do is take a look at everything you have. Figure out which things play no role in your office life, and what you actually require.

You don’t need to be minimalistic about this, but you should discard anything that doesn’t increase productivity in the workspace. Repair broken objects you still want to use, otherwise toss them. This includes statioeary items, equipment, furniture, supplies, and even decor.

A good rule of thumb is that if it’s covered in dust and you haven’t bothered to clean it recently, maybe it’s time to get rid of it. The rest of your stuff should be sorted and stored in relevant places for easy access.

Arrange

Arrange the supplies in your workspace from most used to least used. This will allow you to access stuff you use most often sans the hassle, while your least used stuff isn’t so far away that you can’t grab it when you need it.

Things that are rarely used can be stored away in a supply closet or storage drawer, out of sight. To increase efficiency, arrange supplies in your workspace according to the schedule you follow during the day.

For example, if the first thing you do is go through mail, whether it’s hard copies or on the internet, then it should be the first thing you see on your desktop. All relevant items you need for an activity should be placed nearby, ready for use when you are. This will get rid of any clutter from your work space.

Label

Labels are a life-saver when it comes to organization. Get a label maker that’s simple and easy to use and label everything. Yes, we mean everything! Label baskets, drawers, bins, and shelves so you know where to put everything and where to find it later. This is a great office organization tool and will also make it easier for other people to find those items without having to ask you.

Organize Your Desk

A cluttered workspace and desk can result in a cluttered mind. To prevent this from happening, organize your desktop space at least monthly, although weekly is better. Do it on a Friday as a nice start-of-the-week gift for your future self.

Use a desktop organizer to sort everything into their proper piles. Trays can be used to organize mail, files, and documents. Mugs and cup containers can be used for small stationery items like pens, pencils, and markers. While you’re at it, organize your computer desktop too and make sure everything is in logical and appropriate folders.

Organize Drawers

Organize all your files, documents, and other miscellaneous things drawers tend to collect to ensure everything is in its rightful place. It’s also a great opportunity to get rid of any unnecessary stuff lying around inside of them.

Start by emptying out one desk drawer at a time and sorting stuff into two piles of relevant and irrelevant items. Throw all unnecessary items in the trash or recycling bin. You can also add a desk organizer to each one to keep everything organized and tidy.

You can arrange files and documents into piles of current, past, and future items, along with an extra pile for things that still need to be filed properly. Throw away or shred anything that is no longer relevant or needed.

Create Work Zones

Designate different areas in your office for specific purposes to prevent a hot mess in your office space. When you know where everything is supposed to be, and everything has a ’home’, it can make your work life so much easier.

For example, make your desk space your main work area - Move all your reference documents to a storage section on low open shelves, filing cabinets, or in your overhead desk storage, and create a supply area that contains all necessary equipment and supplies. These office supply storage ideas are great desk organization tips to organize your supplies for easy access and also prevent a cluttered workspace.

Create a Filing System

This is the digital age, which means most documents are stored on the cloud, instead of on paper. Only the most important things should be documented on paper as backup.

Go through all of your stored files and discard any that aren’t absolutely necessary. For files stored on your computer, make sure you’ve got backups to prevent any data from being lost.

Create separate folders for documents that need to be discussed with team members, for documents that are waiting on a response, as well as folders for documents that need reading or archiving. For important documents that require a physical backup, create a designated paperwork drawer in your file cabinet or desk to keep them organized.

Utilize Inboxes

A simple inbox and outbox tray can make your work life so much easier. An inbox tray can help you stay on top of all of your documents without using too much desk space. Create separate inboxes for different types of documents, including requests, project updates, mail, etc.

Organization is an ongoing effort. To make sure your office remains neat, perform housekeeping tasks on a regular basis. Beyond that, whether it's a home office, a small desk space, or a large office, remember that your workspace is a sacred space where you go to create and invent. It doesn’t have to be boring! Yes, a clean and organized room fosters an organized mind, but you still need that room to spark creativity, too.

Visit us at Juniper for office organization tools, supplies, and more office design and organization tips

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